Surfer Garrett McNamara catches what is believed to be the largest wave ever surfed, off the coast of Nazare, Portugal. Photo: EPA

Garrett McNamara carries his longboard after a surf session at Praia do Norte beach in Nazare, Portugal. (AP)

Garrett McNamara setting the previous world record when he surfed a 78-foot wave in 2011. (REUTERS)

Garrett McNamara in the waters off Child’s Glacier as ice crashes into the waters around them. (
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Garrett McNamara in the waters off Child’s Glacier as ice crashes into the waters around them. (
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Appearing as a speck on a mountain of water, American big wave surfing legend Garrett McNamara caught an estimated 100 foot wave off the coast of Nazare, Portugal, yesterday.

If the size of the wave is confirmed McNamara will have broken his own world record, which he also set off of Nazare, when he surfed a 78 foot wave in 2011.

When the 45-year-old Massachusetts born McNamara broke the record in 2011 he was called “inspirational” by fellow surfers even though he only broke the record by a foot.

“It’s amazing we get to do what we do, I am so grateful,” McNamara said at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave awards in 2011 when his record was confirmed.

“I didn’t want to get caught up in it all, but I have to tell you the truth, when they announced my name I got a bigger rush than probably on all the waves I rode all year.

Besides setting big wave records, McNamara was also the first man to ride a glacier wave.

After staking out out the 400 foot Child’s Glacier in Alaska for three weeks, McNamara and his partner on a jetski finally found the perfect wave which was formed when a mountain-sized block of ice broke off the glacier.